A big win for Varivao Holdings

FROM a humble beginning in the late 80s, a local business slowly soared to remarkable heights, resulting in Varivao Holdings snatching some of the country’s top business awards.

Varivao Holdings is one of Solomon Islands most remarkable businesses.

Last year, Varivao Holdings CEO Duddley Longamei was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, while the firm snatched the ‘Prime Ministers award’.

Varivao Holdings connects people in remote villages with international markets, providing opportunity where otherwise it might not exist.

A relatively new businessman to the private sector, Duddley Longamei established and registered Varivao Holdings Ltd in 1989 with a wholesale and a retail store business.

Later in year 1990's, the business ventured into cocoa export, exporting to Europe markets.

Varivao Holdings Ltd started to buy process and market of Solomon gold coffee in year 1993.

In year 2003, Varivao Holdings Ltd expanded its business buying, processing and exporting of kava products to a number of Pacific countries and to USA market. Varivao Holdings Ltd also ventured into mobile banking, operating three agents and also expanding to accommodation business service in Isabel.

“All these business dealings are established through the profits of our businesses with the assistance obtained from the bankers and assistance from the external financiers like Solomon Islands Government, SPC, Australian AID and EEU,” Mr Longnamei said.

It was a big win for Mr Longamei and his company in the 3rd Annual Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) Business Excellence Awards night.

Varivao Holdings Ltd and its CEO became widely known when their success was recognised at the 3rd Annual 2015 Business Excellence Awards.

Mr Longamei was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’; while Varivao Holdings Ltd scored the coveted ‘Prime Ministers award’, as well as ‘Most Innovative Business’ runner up.

The night was a celebration of the positive impact this business has quietly made in Solomon Islands.

The award was described by the firm’s CEO as a huge achievement and has created a new and historical chapter for the people of Kolomola community in Isabel province.

These Business Excellence Awards had come about through recognising the hard work, commitment, service delivery, returns benefits back to the rural people and honoring the business law of the Solomon Islands.

Mr. Longamei said the awards had paid off the hard work, the heart of perseverance, passion, dedication, discipline and unity uphold within the company which he said was initiated by their elders.

“This national recognition proved that Varivao Holdings Limited is a locally owned community company that can also be a model to all local businesses to do business to develop the country,” he said.

Varivao Holdings Ltd thanked the judges for thoroughly making their best analysis in their consideration for The Prime Ministers award in 2015.

“On behalf of the Varivao Holdings Ltd board of directors, management, staffs and the members, I would like to thank the Board, Chief Executive; Greg Terrill, Chairman; Jeremy Bartlett and the staff of SICCI for officiating and coordinating this great event.”